"GOODMAN!" Randy called, running across Lacey's basement and hugging Natalie when her and Lacey walked downstairs. "Long time no see loser – where've you been!" He cried, as everyone else stood up and welcomed her "back".
"We've missed you!" They called.
"I missed you guys too." She said quietly.
"Come, sit down!" Lacey said, and they all headed back to the couch to surround the guitar hero competition. For the few hours she was there, Natalie felt like everything was back to the way it had been – being with her friends, laughing, talking, playing video games in the basement – everything was back the way it should be. Except that Henry wasn't there. He was thousands of miles away….
…
THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY
"Tanner!" Henry called down the school hallway. Tanner turned around, and Henry saw he had a black eye and that his nose was still pretty swollen. Tanner rolled his eyes when he saw that it was Henry, and kept walking. "C'mon man!" Henry said, grabbing Tanner's arm and facing him.
"What do you want Carter?"
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't of hit you, it was stupid..."
"All I did was make some comment about your dumb girlfriend and you went all ape shit…."
"She's not dumb, alright?" Henry spat out firmly. "And I agree – I went ape shit. I just have boundaries – and Natalie's one of them. I know you don't understand, but she's everything to me. And I love her – and she's made mistakes and so have I but whether you're sober or drunk it still pisses me off when you bring up shit like what you said. I'm sorry for hitting you – that was wrong. But, you could have hurt someone if you had driven that bike as drunk as you were, and you had no right to say…"
"You're right. I don't even know Natalie. And what I said was wrong. I was drunk, and c'mon man you know me well enough to know I wouldn't go that far no matter how mad I am if I was sober. I'm sorry though."
"Me too."
"Are we cool?" Henry thought about it, his new group of friends' drinking and drug use was starting to bug him. He appreciated the good times they had, had so far – but did he really want to continue hanging out with them?
"Yeah, sure." Henry replied reluctantly and they butted knuckles.
"Good – but uh, just a heads up Lydia's still pretty pissed at you.."
"Yeah, not surprising. I'll talk to her – see you later man."
"Later." On his way to lunch Henry caught up with Lydia, who ignored him.
"Hey! Hey..please listen to me for like 8 and half seconds."
"What?" Lydia cried.
"I'm sorry!" Henry exclaimed. "I didn't mean to hit him – I just reacted before I could think, alright? I'm sorry."
"Whatever.."
"No! Not whatever! You were one of my first friends here – please don't be like this. You know I'm sorry. I know that you know. And you know that I know that you know – and I know that you know that I know that…." Lydia finally cracked and began laughing.
"Alright – I KNOW. Fine, I forgive you. And I'm sorry too." Henry chuckled.
"Forgiven." Lydia smiled and quickly hugged him.
/
Natalie laughed at her loser friends as they switched the contest from guitar hero to dance, dance revolution and took out her phone when she felt it vibrate.
Henry – Hellllllo
Natalie – Hi
Henry – What's up?
Natalie – I'm hanging out with…them
Henry- THE GANG!
Natalie – Yes, lol.
Henry – Have your guitar hero skills improved?
Natalie – NO. And we just switched to DDR.. haha
Henry – Damn it – I'm fucking amazing at that game. I'm a pretty good dancer
Natalie – Oh yes, your soulja boy at the spring dance last year was incredible.
Henry – That's the moment you knew you loved me, wasn't it? ;)
Natalie – Of course it was.
Henry – Have you played yet?
Natalie – Hell no.
Henry – Ahhaa c'mon do it!
Natalie – I don't do dances…or dance.
Henry – Do this dance with me? ;)
Natalie – I would….if you were here
Henry – Way to make a wonderfully cheery conversation depressing.
Natalie – That's a Goodman for you. Making it worse. Soo… how's life surfer dude?
Henry – Incredible. Not. I punched Tanner the other day…
Natalie – Holy shit why! Nevermind, you're totally lying lol. You'd never punch someone…
Henry – I did. And he has a black eye – you're big bad boyfriend I am.
Natalie – I hope you apologized.
Henry – I did, and we're cool.
Natalie – Why would you hit him? Isn't he like your new bff?
Henry – Number 1 – I don't have bffs. And 2 - because he was drunk and said something that pissed me off.
Natalie – Anything else exciting?
Henry – No. Well, aside from the fact that I'm talking to you….
Natalie – Shucks, I'm blushing.
Henry – We're such losers.
Natalie – Haha, I know right?
Henry – At least we have each other.
Natalie – Yeahhh…my turn for DDR. Call me and say goodnight?
Henry – I will – we haven't spoken in days. I miss your voice. Now go shake that groove thang..
Natalie – Don't say that. Ever. Again.
Henry – The proof that I ever did has already been erased off my phone.
Natalie – Mine too. Talk to you later – love you!
Henry – Love you too
Later that night, as Natalie walked into her room in her pajamas after her shower her cell phone rang and she answered it without even checking her caller ID.
"Hey!"
"Hey! Please say something again so I can hear your voice." Henry said geekily. Natalie giggled.
"How was your day?" She asked.
"Mhmm..your voice is so luscious and…"
"HENRY!" Henry laughed.
"My day was wonderful, thank you."
"You didn't punch anybody else?"
"Nope. How was your day?"
"Fine."
"Just, fine? Did you have fun?"
"Yeah."
"Then why is your voice suddenly sounding sad."
"Because I miss you." Natalie groaned, "Sooo much."
"I miss you too Nat, but hey it's just like 2 or 3 more weeks. When I pick you up at the airport, are we going to run towards each other and embrace like losers?"
"You want to, don't you?" Natalie asked.
"Hell yes." Henry replied, and both of them cracked up. "But I can't wait to hug you. Because then I can feel you in my arms… AND hear your luscious voice." Natalie giggled.
"I love you." She said, hazily.
"Aw shucks…I suppose the feeling is mutual." Henry teased. Natalie didn't reply after a few moments. "Natalie? Nat, I'm just kidding…"
"I know but I thought you deserved to be punished – 3 seconds without my luscious voice."
"Trust me – I learned my lesson." They laughed and Natalie sighed. "Tired?" Henry asked.
"Mhmm."
"Go to sleep. It's like one in the morning there. I'll talk to you soon."
"Alright."
"Sleep tight – I love you."
"Love you too."
Henry woke up Saturday morning, err – 1 in the afternoon to the sound of sobbing coming from the kitchen. He threw off the covers and quickly walked out of his room. His Dad was on one knee, holding one of his Mom's hands and rubbing her back while she sobbed.
"What's going on, what's wrong?" Henry demanded, rushing to his Mom's side, and gripping her other hand. Mr. Carter and Mrs. Carter exchanged a glance, unsure of whether to tell him of what was happening. "What?" Henry demanded again.
"Your Mom…" Henry's Dad began, as his wife cried. "…went to the doctor the other day and it um turns out that…she's been diagnosed, with breast cancer."
Henry felt his jaw drop and his eyebrows raise – no, no, NO! This wasn't supposed to happen to HIM and HIS family! No, this kind of shit happened to other people. He felt guilty immediately after the thought of the Goodman's came into his mind. No, not HIS MOM! She was the best Mom in the whole world, she doesn't deserve this.
"She's gonna die. My mom's going to fucking die and there's nothing that I can freaking do about it!" Henry thought. He didn't know what to say.
"God, Mom…..Mom…I'm sorry." Was all he could manage.
"Don't say that!" She cried. "Don't apologize – it's not your fault." She continued, wiping her eyes. "Anything that happens with this – it's not your fault, okay? No matter how things turn out I will be so disappointed if you blame yourself, Henry."
"…uh…okay." Henry tried staying solid, and strong. He tried desperately not to let his voice shake. "Wh..what happens now?" Henry asked cluelessly.
"Your Mom starts treatments next week."
"Like, treatment…like…chemo?"
"Yes." Mr. Carter said gravely. Henry nodded.
"There's nothing else…"
"No. That's all they can do right now." Henry's Dad cut him off. Henry nodded again.
"Well…um…Mom, if you need anything…I'm here to help." He said. His Mom smiled at him gently. Henry leaned over her chair and hugged her, and she kissed his cheek.
"I love you, you're such a good kid." She whispered, letting her hand linger over her son's cheek.
"I love you too, mom." Henry said.
"Well, uh Henry why don't you go on upstairs, we need a minute to talk about some things." Henry's Dad said, and Henry walked upstairs. He walked into his room and put every ounce of strength he had into not throwing something. He was boiling over with anger
"WHY! WHY ME – WHY MY MOM! WHY THIS! SHE'S GONNA DIE, AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT ANYBODY CAN FUCKING DO! THIS IS SO GOD DAMN FUCKED UP! WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE?IT'S NOT FAIR, SHE DOESN'T DESERVE IT!"
His mind screamed. Henry felt his eyes boil with angry tears, but refused to let them fall. He hadn't felt like this in…a long time….months. And the last time he had felt like this, there were 3 things that helped. 3 things he promised Natalie, he wouldn't do again.
Soo sorry for not updating! I'll try to get 15 up ASAP, but please be patient! I appreciate you guys reading, I hope you like it! Reviews are gloriously wonderful and very appreciated